Ultrasonic‐assisted synthesis of supramolecular copper (II) complex a precursor for the preparation of octahedron Cu 2 O nanoparticles applicable in the adsorption and photodegradation of Rhodamine B

A copper (II) supramolecular coordination complex formulated as [Cu 2 (μ‐ox) 2 (pyz) 3 ] n ( 1 ), (pyz = pyrazine and ox = oxalate) has been synthesized under ultrasound irradiation. 1 was characterized using various techniques such as elemental analyses, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and single crystal X‐ray diffraction (SC‐XRD). A detailed magnetic characterization of complex 1 has been carried by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The M‐H hysteresis loop of 1 revealed a weak ferromagnetic behavior with the highest magnetization of 0.0123 emu/g at room temperature. Compound 1 was used as an inorganic precursor to prepare Cu 2 O nanoparticles through thermal decomposition at 600 °C. The obtained Cu 2 O has been characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of SEM showed octahedron Cu 2 O nanoparticles with the edge lengths from 5–80 nm. Also, the adsorption ability and the photocatalytic activity of octahedral Cu 2 O nanoparticles in the removal of rhodamine B (RB) have been investigated. The results showed that the obtained octahedral Cu 2 O nanoparticles are effective in adsorption and degradation of rhodamine B from contaminated water sources. The maximum adsorption capacity and degradation efficiency of Cu 2 O nanoparticles were 83.3 mg/g and 91.7%, respectively. It was also found that in comparison with the commercial Cu 2 O, our fabricated Cu 2 O nanoparticles exhibit higher catalytic activity.